Archive of the Oxford University Exploration Club

Collection

How to
request

Only individual files or items can be requested not entire collections, series, or sub-series

Use the Navigate this collection tree to find the materials you wish to request for viewing in a reading room, at file or item level, then click the Request this button on those pages.

Help

The papers comprise Club and Expeditions Council minutes; correspondence and papers relating to expedition funding and grant-giving bodies; papers relating to the production of the O.U. Exploration Club Bulletin; academic papers and fieldnotes from O.U. expeditions; expedition proposals as well as preliminary and final reports and correspondence and papers relating to same; expedition photographs, correspondence and papers concerning medical and safety issues; general correspondence; printed matter (including termcards and club rules). The collection also includes a number of expedition papers of the Oxford University Cave Club.

The collection also included corrupt floppy disks containing files relating to expeditions to Alaska (1995), Western Kenya, and Zanskar Gorge (1995), from which no data could be recovered.

Dates

Creation: 1924-2006

Extent

8.14 Linear metres (74 physical shelfmarks)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Some material is closed.

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. Dep. c. 990].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Full range of shelfmarks:

Dep. c. 990-1052, Dep. d. 923-925, Dep. e. 534-535, MS. 6102/1, MSS. Digital 1-5

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 6102, 6316

Additional Description

Abstract

Proposals and reports from Oxford University expeditions, as well as O.U.E.C. administrative papers.

Biographical / Historical

The Oxford University Exploration Club (O.U.E.C.) was established in 1927 as an organising body for the general encouragement of exploration and scientific expeditions employing personnel drawn principally from Oxford University. It exists to encourage and advise potential explorers and, under the aegis of the Oxford University Expedition Council, makes recommendations to the Hebdomadal Council of the University as to which expeditions shall be entitled to use the name "Oxford University Expedition to...".

Arrangement

The papers are arranged chronologically within series.

Custodial History

The papers were accumulated by the Club from various senior members of the Club and the Club Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Deposited by the Oxford University Exploration Club, April 2006 and April 2008

Related Materials

The Library also holds material relating to Oxford University Exploration Club within the John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera, including Norwegian travel timetables, 1936-8, and a South African clothing catalogue, 1957. See also printed Oxford University Exploration Club expedition reports and copies of the Exploration Club Bulletin available through SOLO (Search Oxford Libraries Online).